davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
A Startling Proposition.

In order To countcract the growing
aridity of the steppc region between
the Caspian and Aral seas, the Russian
scientist Venukof proposes that the
waters of the Don be diverted into tho
Volga, or, better still, that canal be
dug connecting the Black sea with the
Caspian. so as to cause the latter to ex
pand over a larger bed instead OF
shrinking as it does now. The progress
of irrigation going Oh in the Russian
dominions of Central Asia is contrbut.
ing to the shrinkage not only of the
Caspian. but also Of the Sea Of Aral
and Lake Hamun. The Don was in
former ages a tributary of the Volga,
and the piercing of the strip of land
between Kalatch on the Don and
Sarepta on the Volga would offer but
slight difficulties, the distance being
only sixty kilometers.- y Post.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
FULL OF FUN.


We think We violate no confidence
when we state that hard conundrum
Is like an artists model, inasmuch as il
is poser.-Boston Transcript.
-"Ycs." observed Mrs. Crap. 1--WE
kinder got tired of gas, and now we're
goin. to have the house lit with clan.
destinc electric lights"
Two boys were in tho post-ollice
together. One of them, pointing to a
small sign. said: That's what | do
when my mother boxes my ears-lcttcr
box"
-Gruntling-Landlorl, your serv.
ants are very much like time and tide.
Landlord (ilattered)-Ah. indeed. sir!
How is that? Gruntlins-Thcy wait
on no man.
$50 old Bullion has absconded. l
hear" observed Mrs. Snaggs. EYES"
replied Mr.. Snaggs. "and he left u
largo deficit behind" "Did he?
Why. I heard he'd taken along every
thing he could lay his hands on. Per-
haps the deficit was too heavy to carry
of. It'd Dts.
Emerald Innocence. - Bridget
(rcading n silver wedding invita,ion.)
An faith, phat do r. S. V. p. name?
Och. I've struck it. Ralc silver vastly
preferred. The loikcs Of that. now.-
Tcrds Sihings.
"A magazine asks: "What is true
joy?" True joy is what II woman feels
when committee ut country fair de-
clarcs that her crazy-quilt is pretticr
than all the assembled crazy-quilts of
her ncighbors-
"A seasonablc.h column says that
warm soapsuds is one of the best insect
washes. II is well TO know this. In
sccts lose kali their unplcaSantncss
when they are kept nice and clean.
Save your suds.-Lyc.
-Mistrcss-Why, Mary, where have
YOU been all the forenoon? told You
you YOU might go out for walk for an
hour, and you have been away three
hours, at least. Domcsiic--Yis, mar
rum; bu, then I'm an awfully sh!ow
walker. yc KNOW J. Mail
-"Oh, yes" said the Lake street
livcryman. when the tide rose two feet
in his basement Office; 81 like water
well enough. in its place. But I'm
keeping II livcry-stablc, and not bath
house. So. Adams Messenger.
-"Maggic's bother asked me to kiss
him. mamma" "Wcll. of course You
did not?" "No. / didn't hear i'm"
"rhcn how do yon know he asked
vou?" "Wcll, | didn't hear him on'y
dus little bit! didn't hear i'm 'nuf
To 30 to i'm. mamma"-Boston Conn
monrCdlM.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
A DECEPTIVE WORLD.
Why an Onicious Stranger Appealed to
Detroit Policeman

Why an Onicious Stranger Appealed to ~
Detroit Policeman.
III was standing right here 10y thi,
spile." said n stranger ut the foot ol
Randolph street TO policeman whc
had come up. "whcn l saw man over
there by that post. He acted rs If ho
was in trouble, and | suspected he was
going to jump into the river. turned
for a moment to watch the ferry-boat,
and when looked again he was gone" ="
The officer advanced 10 the edge Of
the dock. peered around. and replied:
Here's hole in the ice. Did you
hear splash?"
"No."
Nobody call outP"
NO"
"And he disappeared all at once'"
"IIc did. sir. You look around here
and I'll take Il glance behind that wood
pile"
The officer was seeking way to get
down on the ice. when the mau called
to him and led him behind a pile q.
wood. There was man there, and he
had bottle in his hand.
"Same person, sir!" whispered the
ofiicious individual. 81 told YOU | sus-
pected he was in trouble. 1t wasn't
that, sir, but he wanted To take drink
without feeling obliged to pass the bot.
tie to me. and he lodged in here. Sor.
ry to have alarmed you. sir, but this is
world of deception, and as soon as
you are gone I'll thump his head for
him. detroit Free Press.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
ETON'S "SALT HILL"
A Profitable Institution OF the Old In
piIsh School.

A Profitable Institution OF the Old En-
giish school.
Any old E,on boy would tell you that
you might rs well never have been born
rs not To know about Montem. Why.
Montcm was as old rs Queen Eliza
beth's time, and Queen Victoria was
very sorry to have TO consent 10 have 1t
broken up. Tho senior collcger was
captain of Montcm. and he sometimes
made El.000 out Of IL
On the morning Of Montcm day. the
captain gave great breakfast in tho
hall to the fifth and sixth forms. Then
the boys marched twice around the
school yarl, the ensign waved
the great flag, the corporals drew
their swords. and the procession
started through the Playing Fields to
Salt Hill. in long line. accompanied
by two or three regimental bands. The
officers wore red tail coats. white
trousers, cooked hats with feathers and
rcgimental boots; and the lower boys
wore blue coats with brass buttons,
white waistcOats and trousers, silk
stockings and pumps, and carried slen'
der white poles. But before this, long
before sunrise, the saltbcarers and
their twelve assistants had gone. some
on foot and some in gigs. to their
places on the great roads leading to
Eton, to beg "salt" from every body
they met. Salt meant money; and
every body had to give them salt
George III. and Queen Charlotte al
ways gave fifty guineas apiece. The
money went to the captain ut
Niontcm, to help him pay his
expenses at the university to
which he was to go after leaving Eton.
The salt-bearcrs carried satin money.
bags and painted slaves, and rs re-
ceipts for the salt that they secured
they gave little printed tickets with tho
date Of the year, and q Latin motto.
Every body went to M1ntem. King
George always used to 90, and Queen
Victoria went There was always
"AIontem poet" who dressed In patch
work, and wore crown; and he drove
about the crowd in donkey.cart, re-
citing his ode and Aourishing copies OF
1t for sale.
When tho procession came to the top
,of Salt Hill. the ensign waved his flag
n second time, and that ended the cclc-
bration; only the boys and the visitors
all went to the inns at Windsor for q
big dinncr.-Edwin d. Mead, in 81.
| Nicholas.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
Boiler Explosions In Germany.

There were Is boiler explosions rc-
ported in Germany in 1885. against IA
in 1884 and 1888. The number Of casu-
altics to persons was 22. against 40 In
in 1884 aud 55 in 1883, tho number Of
fatalities being II, against l2 and
90. while two persons were badly in
jurcd and nine slightly injured.
Ofthe boilers which exploded thu 90 were
vertical. eight horizontal, and two tubu
lar. The cause of explosion was 10
three cases local weakening of platHs,
in three cases want Of water, In t~o
cases defective construction, and in one
case each excessive incrustation. high
pressure, faulty action Of tubes, weak
and defective construction and careless
attendance. During recent yesrs there
has been a noticeable falling off in
Germany in the number OF explosions,
rs in that OF fatalities.-M y Post.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
JlMMY,s ESSAY.
Why n Hopeful aud bright Youth Retired
from Literary Pursuits.

It was Friday afternoon Mt Dutch
Branch. and tho school-marm was vary
ing the mono,ony of the week by the
usual literary exercises.
Jimmy Glover was billed for an cs.
say. and that worthy young rooster had
been in trouble for n week or more. for
this was Jimmy's first venture into the
literary field. Friday morning the
clouds had rolled away from his troubled
intellect, for the previous night he had
prepared his production.
When Jimmy's name was called III
strobe to the front with long and swing
ing strides. which indicated strong de.
sire to save steps and discharge an
honest duty. As he read he OCCASION.
ally ncrvously ran his thumb under
his one suspcndcr, and this is what he
read:
"CATs.-Firstly-Tharc's the cats wot
fcllcrs write so much about. that set on
the fence and sing every night and gii
boot-iacks throwcd ut 'cm. These cats
after they have yealdcd up nine difreni
costs contribute still to wants OF the
mcwsic loving public dnd have aplace
on every fiddle, which is used at hoe
down.
"Secondly-Thcrc is the eats wot we
fsh out Of the crick, and when we
ketch 'em they make us awful caushus
about taken them oilen the hook cause
they've got horns TO 'em.
"Thirdly-Thare is the old cats wot
tocch skool. They keap one eye on the
skool while the other is a-rovin' around
looking for some green-horn wot's fool
cnuff To mar-"
But Jimmy read no further. AT thi:
iuncturc he received ringing slap on
the off side of his face, and the teacher
took him by the ear, while she suspend.
ed the exercises long enough to send
ont the cross-cycd boy with instruc'
tons to reduce the supply of young
growing timber. Jimmy has retired
from literary pursuits.-Frdnk Lynn,
in 81. Louis Whip.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
MIDWINTER FASHIONS.
Hints for Ladies Who Wish to Dress a
cording to the Latest styles.

Hints for Ladies who Wish to Dress Ac-
cordlng to the Latest styles.
The rivalry between tailor-madc cos
tunes and the fancful creations OF the
drcssmakcr is more active than ever
1t would be hard to say which style of
dressing is most in vogue. for there are
so many women who do not feel well
dressed without elaborate ornamental
ton and so many Others who adhere to
the belief that simple dressing is the
tr1lcst taste. II is scarcely necessary to
say that all coats for the street should
be tailor-ma,lc. The fashionable coat
for young ladies Is called the covert
coat and is made of melton or some
other smooth cloth, in fawn color
or gray. The fronts are slightly
longer than the back and arc
either tight or loose. doublc-brcas,cd
or single. When tight and double
breasted there is seam down the midi
lie of the front and the buttons are
ut on to slope in toward the waist.
iinglc-brcastcd coats button under
mp. All the seams. even darts, are
trapped, and tho side seams at the
ack are opened for three inches. Two
mall pockets arc placed in front near
he hips. Nothing could be- more SIM
lie than these coats, but they must be
iadc with the utmost nicely and skill.
nd so much in demand are they. that
hey bring from $50 to SOS each. Coats
sc the dress are worn, but plain seams
re used on them unless the goods is
close, smooth weave. listers
no of all kinds of plaids and
hccks. and vary but little in style
ON those of last season. They are
iadc with either cape or a hood. In
use the former is used it should reach
carly'to the waist and be made full.
Drcssy wraps resemble the back
,rms of basque, loaded with jet,
;hcn seen from behind. The sleeves
re made entirely of passcmenterie and
ringe, and side forms seem to be lack
ng. The fronts are long and narrow,
mere tabs; and the back has boufiant
,ash effect of ribbon or lace, or both.
Visiting and house dresses are made
without trains, and almost invariably
nave u petlicoat of some costly mate
rial. Pctticoats of plaid velvet are con.
sidered II novelty, and those of plain or
ribbed plush are greatly favored.
The plaid velvet is made in
blocks four inches square. frisd
alternating with plain. No trim.
ming is ordinarily on the petticoat'
but on very rich toilettes q band OF
bead passementerie Is used. and tho
beads must be Of the color OF the dress.
All dresses are made with the founda.
ton skirt of silk. This is not rs cx.
tavagant as 1t sounds, as silk for the
purpose is sold at from fifty to eighty
cents. When the petticoat, which Is
secured directly over the foundation
skirt, is of wool goods or silk. foot
plating of the same is used, but when
the petticoat is of velvet or plush, tho
pl,sse is Of the same silk as the foun'
dation.
The proper width for the foundation
Is two yards and quarter. but the
skirt over it is half q yard wider
Draperies are very long and very ample.
Basques are still short, but with q ten
dency to lsngthou. Good Cheer
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
GIRL lOAFERS.
A Glass of Maynard Young Women tn he
Found Only In New York.

A Glass of Maynard Young Women to he
Found Only In New York.
Her head was held erect and her face
wrcathcl i'm smiles rs she went out of
court. She waved her hand TO some
dc,pcrate-looking youths, mere lads, on
the benches. and whispered to the
nearest one: "lll be with Maggie on de
Island to-morrcr. I'll give her de best
love of de gang"
Thus she spoke of going TO Jail. A
few years ago she would have been
classified in that same court as a
"pivo,er. but to-day she comes under
the term "a chippy." Pivoter means II
girl addicted to picnics, excursions.
and other affairs at which there was a
great deal of pivoting. or waltzing. and
chippy means young thing. Both
terms apply TO the same class Of way
ward girls in short dresses. You re.
an idea Of the size Of this town when
YOU realize that there are enough
misguided children of one sex to
add to our language word for COM
mon use. The police estimate that
there are twenty thousand of these girl
arabs in New York. and at least n,
many more in Brooklyn. Jersey City
aud Newark combined.
They are the feminine counterpart
and consorts of the gangs" for whic
we are notorious. They are the prod
ucts Of our tcncmcnt-house system, il
which humanity is so crowded that th'
children have to grow up in the street
for want of room indoors. The sample
chippy is u revelation to humanity
She is feminine in nothing exccr
dress. She boasts that she was ncvc
known to cry. She fights like boy
and would as lief fight with boy a
not. She smokes, drinks, swears, picks
pockets, pliers, and sometimes usc'
tobacco. She haunts theater galleries,
picnics. skating and bathrooms. She
is Indifferent whether she sleeps a
home or in box wagon laid up in asid
street over night. She terrorizes hci
parents. and. joining with other chip
pies every morning, dcscends on the
avenues where goods are exposed Oh
the sidewalks, aud they arc rs IL ?
scourgc was upon them.-Jultdn
RdlDhs Later.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
$500 1 YEAR.

putting an end TO tho poor creatures
misery; but he was easily persuaded to
wait and SEQ what the birds would do.
An Immediate result OF the meeting
was tho feeding Of the prisoner. several
members Of the party flying to tho
ocean and returning with fish In their
claws. It was easily seen. however,
that the nearncss OF the tree 10 tho
house and the lowness Of the branches
on which the wounded bird crouched
caused the greatest anxiety. and even
after the invalid's hunger was satisfied,
the other birds kept flying away In
parties, while others still perched
on the trees. and seemed to be awaiting
the messengers return. 1t was 50 evil
dent that some plan had been made
that number OF ladies brought their
needlework out into the orchard and
stayed waiting to SEQ what was going
to be done. Tho hawks were very
quiet all day, except that the sufferer
uttered an occasional sound as 1t moved
uneasily in It's lcafy bed. while the
watchers replied in low. soothing
tones, as II with words OF pity or On.
couragement- Toward sunset n single
hawk appeared on the scene, then an
other and another; chattering began,
and tho excitement increased as the
messengers kept returning In twos and
threes. The wounded bird raised itself
as much rs possible from the branch.
and seemed joyfully expcctant,
while the others flew around 1t gayly.
Soon loud tapping overhead was
heard. q flock of hawks appeared. and
In their midst q giant hawk-a bird
much larger and stronger than any OK
the rest. For few moments 1t pcrched
upon the topmost branch OF the tree.
then started up and began circling
about, coming lower. nearer to its
wounded brother. until, suddenly
swooping. It graspcd the latter In Its
claws, and raising him gently from the
bough, scared away with him triumph
antly. The other hawks followed. lcav'
ing the spectators overwhelmed with
astonishmcnt. They did not doubt that
the hawk was being carried to some
safe, retired spot, where he could DO
fed and waited on until his wound
healed.-Goiden Days.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
Spain's Postal Service.

The bankers and merchants OF BARGE.
Iona and Madrid propose to start o
private postal service, paying the Gov
ernment the postage on the letters car
The reason given for this curious pro-
posal Is that robberies in the Spanish
post-oflices are so frequent that 1t is
unsafe to transmit money through tho
post In short It Is stated that tho
Spanish post-ofiice Is In terrible state
Of disorganization, and 1t is surprising
that this state Of things should have
been ignored by successive ministries.
all apparently solicitous to promote
the industrial needs Of the country.
The civil departments Of the Spanish
administration, like the military do.
partments. are overburdened with en-.
ployes, receiving very small salaries.
and who arc therefore not beyond tho
reach Of temptation.-BosIon Tran.
script
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
a SHAMEO BIRD.
A story of the Plain Nightingale. with Ills
Beautiful Voice. and the Gorgeous Pea
a..aL .rItI IIIs IIarrld Crnak.
Little FoHs,

A story of the Plain Nightingale, with His
Beautiful Voice. and the Gorgeous Pea
cock. with His iiorrld Croak.
On n broad green lawn, before q
white marble terrace covered with
flowers. n magnificent peacock was en-
loving the sunshine one summer morn
ing. His breast was OF the lovcliest
bright purple, and his tail was all full
of green and golden eyes. He fancicd
that nobody in the whole world was OF
such consequence as himself. Presently
n nightingale in search of his break
fast flew down to seek worms on the
lawn. He had been singing all the
night long to- his mate, who was sitting
on their nest close by. And he felt
very hungry indeed. So he tugged
busily at the worms just peeping above
ground.
What q mcan-looking. addressed
creature YOU arcv' said the peacock
haughtily. and regarding the nightin-
gale with great contempt, II wonder
you dare show yourself on this splendid
lawn; and in my presence. too!-get
away ut Oncc!'
when ! have finished my break
fast" said the nightingale. 81 shan't
b. long. My wife Is sitting yondcr in
the hawthorne thicket, on four of the
lovelic,t brown eggs you ever saw in
your life. / must make haste back to
her. poor thing, or / know she will feel
very lonely" -.
Don't talk to me about your stupid
brown eggs" retorted the peacock with
supreme disdain; "you are quite be-
meath my notice; get away! won't be
seen talking to YOU"
And he spread his gorgeous tail out
like fan. and showed himself of with
great many airs.
providence does not give all Its
good gifts to one" replied the nightin-
gale. "You are splendid to look at;
but Your voice is as bad as donkcy's.
and sets peoples teeth on edge. am
sober looking enough, but my voice
makes amends for that. Hush! don't
often sing by day; but listen"
And he trilled forth such shower
Of sweet, clear. thrilling notes that
made the woods echo again. The
peacock was astonished, and gaped
stupidity at the speaker.
"Therer said the nightingale; 81
don't want to show of, but / wanted to
prove to you that all the good qualities
In the world do not belong to one per-
son alone. Take my word for 1t, there
Is some good in everybody, II we only
look for It in the right place. And
away he few, leaving the peace ok
good deal ashamed of himself.-Astlej
II. Balitcin, IN Lille Folks.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
THE CONFESSIONAL.
A Catholic Priest Tells How Faithfully
Its Secrets arc Kept.

hN ScefVts aro Nept
Rev. Nicholas Ballcas. pastor Of st.
Francis Church, on Putnam avenue,
near Bedford, preached about the sacra.
mcnt In the Catholic Church. He said
the secret in the confessional could not
be revealed. not even to save tho life oi
an innocent man.
Never, he said. since the institution
of the sacrament Of penancc has priest
been known to disclose that which was
made known to him in the confessional.
Scoflrrs at religion have made priests
drunk for the purpose OF loosening their
tongues upon the confession. Priests
have become apostatcs. Others have
become insane. But never has il been
known that the priesthood has been lis
graced by the relation of the sins told
by the pcnitcnt. Should the innocent
suffer that would be the business OF
God. The priest can not communicate
the sins confessed to him. About
Eighty years ago young priest in Ire.
land. who was connected with n very
respectable family, heard the confession
of man who had committed murder.
The brother Of the priest, who was n
military officer. was tried and convicted
ri the crime. lie was executed. His
aged mother died of grief. The priest
shortly after became insane. But not
word escaped his lips to disclose the
secret of the confession. The murderer
himself eventually openly confessed his
crime. In Russian Poland an organst
and parish teacher murdered
Government officer. He used the
gun of the priest, and secrcted il be-
meath the altar in the church. where 1t
was found. There were circumstantial
incidents that appeared to point to the
priest rs the guilty man. He was ar
rested. and was sentenced Ia Siberia.
Twenty years later the organist, when
on his dcath.bed, publicly proclaimed
that he had committed the murder. A
pardon was forwarded to the cxilcd
priest. but death had carried him of
two wears before. Ii was to that priest
the murderer had gone to confession
after the commission of the crime. But
n living death in Siberia was preferable
To breaking the eternal seal OF the
sacred tribunal of the confessional
Brookim Edgic.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
Railroad Tunnels.

The total length of the Severn tun.
mel. England. is 4 miles 624 yards. The
st. Gothard tunnel is 81 miles, Mount
Cents tunnel u miles, Ariberg tunnel
(Austria) II miles; there is tunnel in
Massachusetts, AZ miles; the Standege
tunnel. on the London g. Northwest
ern. is miles long, and Dox tunnel
rather less. But the special feature OF
tho Severn tunnel lies in the fact that
2i miles Of it have been constructed
from As to 100 feet below the bed OF a
rapidly-nowing tidal estuary. offering
engineering difficulties which make II
the most remarkable tunnel in the
world. .-Cdrtlif Mail.
Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-24
A GIANT FRIEND.
How To Rescued Suffering Bird from
Death.

How 1io heeCuou suhoEhB Due $780,
Death.
A party of summer visitors at El-
beron, N. j., were one day very much
surprised at the sagacity OF flock OF
fish-hawks. One OF these birds. being
mistaken for barnyard robber. was
shot at while perching on the top branch
of a tree. The ball struck the bird on
his wing. and he dropped, futtering
and screeching, from bough to bough,
until he contrived to clutch at strong
forked branch and rested there. All
day long he sat, uttering piercing
screams, and the next morning was
found to have gathered round him .
large circle of hawks. prob ably his
friends and relatives, who seemed
to bo holding q council. Each In
turn chattered busily, rs II Civ.
ing advice or posed plans OF re-
lief, while their wounded brother
seemed to listen eagerly, and now and
then put in word. The approach OF
human beings produced great con-
sternation among the birds, but they
did not fly away and desert the dis
sbled one. The sportsman came again
into tb. orchard, wfth tho intention q